Monday, September 26, 2005

Disarming theVictims

NOTE THIS: If you have personally had a gun confiscated in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina hit, please call (888) 414-6333. Be prepared to leave only your name and immediate contact information so we can get back to you. Once again, we are seeking contact information from actual victims of gun confiscation in Louisiana only. For additional information, please visit www.NRAILA.org, or e-mail us at ila-contact@nrahq.org.

My buddy JebTexas emailed me a couple of days ago asking if I was going to post something on the disarming of private citizens in New Orleans. When I saw the info, I originally had mixed feelings because of the looters, and the fact that I have friends and family in law-enforcement.

When I actually sat and thought about the situation, I was appalled by two facts:

2. That I even thought for one second it was ok, because desperate times call for despertate measures. Right? Blinded by personal feelings (friends and family)...I hate when that happens.

Of course, law enforcement has nothing to fear from law-abiding citizens by definition...

This whole situation was wrong, and needs to be addressed so it NEVER happens again.It is inexcusable to disarm the populace when the whole system has broken down.That is when you and your neighbors need to be armed the most.The Constitution says the right "shall not be infringed", not "well, depending on what we feel like at the time".

Here are some excerpts from various sources, all worth reading, I might add.

By Isaac Wolf - Gun rights groups are pointing to Hurricane Katrina as the best example since the 1992 Los Angeles riots of the need for civilians to carry firearms. They say that lawlessness and looting could be prevented by responsibly armed citizens.

Kelly Hobbs, a National Rifle Association spokeswoman, said the group had reports from New Orleans that police had gone to homes of people who had recently purchased guns to confiscate them.

"It's really irresponsible for the authorities to try to confiscate guns from law-abiding individuals," said Andrew A. Arulanandam, also an NRA spokesman. He said officials should instead be working to locate and disarm criminals.

While one can certainly understand the dire predicaments of all those affected by Hurricane Katrina, as we have learned throughout history, campaigns to disarm the lawful do nothing to disarm the criminal. And in truth, these restrictions make citizens less safe. Despite the valiant efforts of many law enforcement officers and rescue workers, too many of those left in the wake of Katrina are ultimately responsible for their own security and safety and that of their families and loved ones. This is especially true when communication is virtually non-existent and police can't be quickly summoned to respond to calls for help. At these times, lawful gun ownership is paramount to personal safety.

But security guards hired by businesses and individuals kept packing heat since no one dared order them to drop their M-16s and other assault riles.

Police preferred to handcuff homeowners to make the Big Easy gun confiscation easier. "Now that the city is relatively calm, they also went to areas that were not flooded, including to $1 million houses," Mr. Pratt said. "Now that they get disarmed, who will be there to protect them?"

There were no reports of criminals giving up their guns to comply with the mayor's edict. Perhaps because they realized the government made it less likely they would be shot during their reign of terror, especially if they headed for higher ground in more affluent neighborhoods.

Cuffing innocent, law-abiding homeowners not accused of any crime. They just happen to be gun owners. Do we live in England, or Canada, now?

“What we’ve seen in Louisiana-the breakdown of law and order in the aftermath of disaster-is exactly the kind of situation where the Second Amendment was intended to allow citizens to protect themselves, ” LaPierre said. “For state, local, or federal government to disarm these good people in their own homes using the threat of imminent deadly force, is unthinkable.”

“The NRA will not stand by while guns are confiscated from law-abiding people who’re trying to defend themselves,” Cox said. “We’re exploring every legal option available to protect the rights of lawful people in New Orleans.”

God bless the NRA!!!

Sobering information, you may agree.(If you're a real American patriot, you definitely agree! :) )

Friday, September 23, 2005>(Fairfax, VA) -- The United States District Court for the Eastern District in Louisiana today sided with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and issued a restraining order to bar further gun confiscations from peaceable and law-abiding victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. “This is a significant victory for freedom and for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The court’s ruling is instant relief for the victims who now have an effective means of defending themselves from the robbers and rapists that seek to further exploit the remnants of their shattered lives,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

Thanks to JebTexas for his insight and thoughts! Another friend of mine, and the 2nd Amendment! :)